Citizenship

Citizenship in the United States is granted to individuals under the following circumstances:

Birth in the U.S. or Certain Incorporated Territories

Have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen, or

Through the naturalization process after becoming a lawful permanent resident.

Please contact FValdezLaw PC if you have questions about your citizenship status or want assistance examining a claim to U.S. citizenship.

Birth in the U.S. or Certain Incorporated Territories

Individuals born in the U.S. and in certain territories are U.S. citizens automatically upon birth. This is granted through the Fourteenth Amendment, which states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States…are citizens of the United States.” This also includes individuals born in certain U.S. territories such as the Virgen Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Swains Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

U.S. Citizenship Through One or Both Parents

Some immigrants might be U.S. Citizens without even knowing it. If one or both parents or grandparents were U.S. Citizens, it might be possible that their child is a U.S. Citizen even if they were born abroad. Individuals may have acquired citizenship at birth or through the naturalization of their parent. The result depends on the birthdate of the individual, whether or not the parents were married, and in some cases, how long the U.S. Citizen parent lived in the U.S. before their child’s birth.

Naturalization

Lawful permanent residents may become naturalized citizens if they meet the following requirements:

they are 18 years old;

have been a lawful permanent resident for 5 years;

have good moral character for the last five years;

have been residing in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident for at least five years;

have been physically and continuously present in the U.S. for at least half of the five years;

are able to read, write, and speak basic English;

are able to pass a test on U.S. history and government; and,

are willing to take an oath of allegiance to U.S.

Individuals who have been married to and living with their U.S. citizen spouse for three years only have to demonstrate that they have lived in the U.S. for 3 years as a lawful permanent resident. Asylees and refugees can naturalize after 4 years of receiving their lawful permanent residence.

Please contact FValdezLaw PC if you have questions about your citizenship status or want assistance examining a claim to U.S. citizenship.